Pupil has 'food and celebration' article published in national children's newspaper

Northwood boy becomes 'Editor-in-Chief' for children's newspaper

An 11-year-old boy was given the opportunity to see his winning story appear on his own page in a national children’s newspaper.

Sohan Desai from St Martin’s School in Northwood was made Editor-in-Chief of his own article in the children’s title, First News, when he won the Guild of Food Writers Write It competition.

The Year Six pupil found out the news during half-term. He was first in the 11-14-years category for his piece about “Food and Celebration”.

Sohan edited his own First News page before seeing his article in print on June 29. He also received a stack of cook books, a year’s free subscription to the paper for himself and St Martin’s and Pink Lady apples for his school.

Sohan Desai

On July 2, he attended a lunch at London’s Borough Market Cook House hosted by the Guild of Food Writers, where he and other shortlisted writers met the judges, including tv presenter Stefan gates and food columnist Martha Collinson.

A chef prepared food from the market and while they were eating they spoke to judges about their decision-making process. Karen Brown, head judge and editor of Delicious magazine, said the winning entries made her feel they were “talking to her personally”.

Sohan was presented with a gold star achievement badge in a school assembly. He said: “I was really surprised and pleased when I found out that I had been shortlisted for the Guild of Food Writers Write It competition in the 11-14-year-old category during half term, but it was even more exciting when Ms Flynn told me I had won.

“As soon as we talked about writing a descriptive piece around the theme of Food and Celebration in our English lesson I knew I would write about Diwali.

“The colours, smells and tastes are all so vivid and interesting to describe. My family celebrates Diwali every year and food, family and fireworks are all an important part of the day.”

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